God’s Divine Plan

In the USA, as well as in some other countries around the world, we have the freedom to celebrate Christmas and other holidays in our homes pretty much as we choose to… But, because I’ve been hearing quite a bit of rhetoric lately about “the real meaning of Christmas”…I thought it good to share both some thoughts – and some facts on that subject…

First of all… In a standard dictionary, “Christmas” is composed of two words – “Christ” and “mas”… “Christ” being defined as “the anointed Messiah”… and “mas” refers to “a specified festival or celebration.” The two words together – “Christmas”- obviously means“a CELEBRATION of Christ, the anointed Messiah.”… It has meant that since the first time Christmas was celebrated… And it still means that today.

So, why would people who do not even believe the gospel of Jesus Christ enjoy celebrating Christmas?… It’s really not that hard to understand… Most people like to give…because giving feels good! It is good! And who among us does not like to be on the receiving end of that giving?… We all do! Giving is good and receiving is fun!… Maybe that is why in Luke chapter 2, the angelic host proclaimed “Tidings of great joy to all people”.. Peace on earth and good will toward men”- as they announced the birth of the Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”

God gave us this Savior for a reason…. He loved..so He gave.. He gave His only begotten Son – Jesus Christ- to be the “mediator between God and men” (I Timothy 2:5). God so loved that He made a way for man to be reconciled to right relationship with Him. God gave this gift of love to all men.. but to those who receive this gift of God – Jesus Christ the Anointed One/Savior/Messiah, there is a very special joy as we celebrate Christmas! For truly knowing Jesus has never been a disappointment to anyone… He is the ultimate gift – the one that truly “keeps on giving”….

He came to give you a new birth in Him (John 3:1-8) – and life eternal!.. And God made it simple… You look to Jesus and ask for this new life in Him… It is the gift of God to you.”

The “bottom line” is this: We can all celebrate Christmas the way that we choose to – but, NOTHING.. can change the true meaning of “Christmas.”

We desire to go on with God… But what we do not see is that we are carrying things that cannot go with us – things we cannot take with us to walk in the next level of His glory… But because we do not see all of this in proper perspective.. (there is so much right now that we do not understand)… Indeed it does seem as though “we look through a glass darkly”… And thus we urgently plead, “Lord help me!”

And of course He is always there to lead us… (He can’t take us unless we ask – because in His sovereignty, God gave man authority on the earth – so that as James 4:2 tells us “…you have not because you ask not.”) So – ask, we do – not seeing or knowing that between where we walk now and the place we desire to be – is “the FIRE or the RAGING waters!” But we ask, and so he leads us out… But before long, we began to think… “This must surely be a mistake!” I mean.. we were wanting to go upward, to get better!… But instead, here we are in a frightening place!

Now, water and fire can both destroy and wreak havoc… But carefully tended and directed, they cleanse and ready the ground for new growth – so that in the time that follows, outcomes a thing for God’s use and our “beauty.”

Then through tears of joy, and with strengthened devotion – we look back – and our understanding is lightened!… Now I see!… There is no other way, else He would surely bring us… But should we come another way – I mean that He would just “zap” us – we would be “there” all right… And “there” would be “perfect!”… But who would He be?… Would we even know Him??

You see, there is so much “distance” between who He is and who we are – a world of difference – that it takes a lifetime just to begin to understand that difference… So that, how could we ever have a proper view of Him… if we had not seen the things that “fill up the way” between our mortality and Him??

Sure, now we see through a glass darkly… But each new level we press to brings us closer to His light, and we grow in our personal knowledge of Jesus Christ… Then from this new place of glory, I see Him more clearly, and do better understand the futility of the unregenerate man…

Indeed later, I shall see Him as He is – but for now I’m just learning and growing – so that I simply see Him in the best way that I can… I see him now through the eyes of my fellowship with Him, and as the word of God reveals…. Indeed that is God’s plan!

Thus He brings us through the fire.. or through the “raging waters.”… And frightening indeed it seems – until we come to the place of understanding.. THAT WE CAN TRUST HIM! And that those hurtful things are brought along our path by our adversary (I Peter 5:8) who is seeking to devour any closeness of relationship we try to form with God… But God our Savior seeks to bring us safely to the other side… And thus you and I who seek Him, are “borne out of the fire.”

The eagle stirs her nest…. She moves away the soft feathers to bring it to the bare sticks. She does this because her chicks are needing to grow up… They are needing to leave the place of comfort (their “comfort zone”) and learn to fly

…. So.. the eagle stirs her nest – their nest – to make it a less comfortable place to be… The aim is to affect a change for the young eaglets …. a change from lazily dozing in the nest to getting up off their “duff”.. and out of the nest! For some this will mean literally jumping off the high cliff their nest is on… and going into a free fall!… But in the midst of that fall, the big eagle will catch them… She will soar in underneath the little one and bare it up on her wings. This the eagle repeats until each little one learns – through that process – to fly….

They thought that they surely were going to fall – but instead, they learn to fly – to soar like an eagle was meant to do! Even so there are times in our walk with God when He sees the need to do much the same for us as the eagle does for their offspring….. and thus He stirs the “nest” that once fit us so well – but now we are needing to move out into something a little bigger! We’ve grown to the point that we are ready for the change – but we’re still reluctant to leave our comfort zone!…. So He starts “pulling out some of the feathers” (things that have made it so cushy for us in the past)…..Because He wants to make our world bigger – give us more territory to cover – but we’re just not quite sure that things will be as comfy for us as they were before ….. and so we balk at the change….

But like the eagle with their offspring – God always knows what is best….. The nest is wonderful, but if you’ve been there twenty years or so – it’s time to move on!! .. So He starts working on that nest to help us decide to get out – try our wings – start moving more in the direction of the good plan He has for our lives……

Another “translation” for all of this is “COME” …. “Get out of that boat/comfort zone and walk on the water with Me!” as Jesus bid Peter to do (Matthew 14:25-31)….. And so.. you climb out of “the nest” into a new adventure with Him….

And He is there to keep you afloat if you start to fall… but you do have to reach out to take “His hand”- that is – whatever direction He offers you….. Do that rather than pull back into the “comfort zone” that your flesh calls you to. We’ve all pulled back into our comfort zone – at least some of the time – but don’t keep doing that all of the time…. Because the things that our Father God offers us are too good to let them all slip by….. Indeed now is the time to let the new adventure He has for you begin…. So step out of “the boat/your nest” and give it a try…..

For He wants to teach all His children to soar with Him – as it were on eagle’s wings – going forth to fulfill all His good plan for you. Thus as the eagle stirs her nest to help her children learn to live their divine destiny and plan (Deuteronomy 32:11-13) – so our Father God calls each of us to rise up and fly with Him.

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